Marriage Unhindered

Doug dives into the mailbag to respond to listeners’ reactions from Monday’s discussion about the challenges young men face in today’s dating world. He explores differing perspectives and digs deeper into what’s shaping these experiences.   Listener questions and comments: Mary - It’s also Paul Revere’s ride tomorrow! (8:46) Mary - My husband and I met and...

Are you concerned about how much time you, your spouse or your children spend on screens? Today, Dr. Johann D’Souza joins Doug to discuss the adolescent mental health crisis   Listener questions and comments: Joyce - How are these new screens any different from using a TV for generations as the baby sitter. (20:13) Chris - I am a high school art teacher. I see a big change in kid's depr...

Deacon Joe Grote joins Doug to discuss his book  Where Have All The Fathers Gone?   Listener questions and comments: Walt - Government policy doesn't help keep fathers in the home. It rewards single parenthood. There should be incentives to keep families together. (18:56) Lisa - I wanted to share how my son is a great boy in spite of losing his father. We need fathers but sometimes when...

What should you do if you discover your husband has same-sex attraction? Today, Doug tackles this question and more on Marriage Unhindered.   Listener questions and comments: John - I thought getting married gets you out of the issue of lust, but it can continue in marriage. (21:50) Julie - I have been married to my husband for 25 years and he always uses contraception, but I don’t know...

Doug dives into the frustrations many men face with modern dating and the challenges of building a lasting marriage. He breaks down what often goes wrong and why so many feel stuck or discouraged. Through honest insights and practical advice, Doug offers straightforward dating tips to help young men build confidence, and create meaningful relationships.   Listener questions and comments: Patr...

Doug explores how lying affects marriages, how to respond, and ways to foster honesty. Listeners share personal experiences, including insights from a recovered liar and the impact of dementia on a spouse’s truthfulness.   Listener questions and comments: Junior – I am a reformed liar and want to share my perspective. Confession helped me realize you don’t have to lie. (34:2...

Fr. Robert Altier joins Doug to discuss the difference between a civil and sacramental marriage and what happens to the souls of a man and woman when they enter into a sacramental marriage.   Listener questions and comments:   Richard - Does a sacramental marriage require a civil marriage? (13:20) Lisette - Follow up: I closed my husband’s laptop and he pushed me out of the room so...

Doug examines a case study about a marriage that had nearly fallen apart but was eventually revived. In this relationship, the couple got engaged after just four months. Although the wife had doubts about the marriage, she reassured herself that even if it didn’t work out, she would at least have children.   Listener questions and comments: Matt - Do you recommend a longer courtship for...

Sarah Bartel, co-founder of Cana Feast joins Doug to discuss how women can enjoy holy and healthy physical intimacy with their husbands.   Listener questions and comments: Mary - My husband would wake me up at middle of night. I would tell him no, but he'd keep insisting. I got to the point, that I told him, ‘It feels like you're raping me'. Was that wrong for me to say? (15:00) John -...

Are you worried that your marriage is in danger? Do you feel like you are losing that loving feeling? Today, Doug shares how to resurrect a dead marriage.   Listener questions and comments: Joe - How do we find a way resolve issues without sounding angry and disrespectful in front of kids? (22:45)   Resources:   Happy Marriage for Life https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/   Ca...

Doug explores the importance of forgiveness in marriage sharing how to forgive like Jesus did from the cross.   Listener questions and comments: Kathy - I think your book should have been called 'suffering in marriage'. You are very good at talking about this topic. (21:15) Esther - Should I feel shame when I forgive my spouse but people are judging me for forgiving him? (35:46) Dianna - I wa...

Katy Faust with Them Before Us joins Doug to share how children need to be a priority in our society.   Listener questions and comments: Patrick - Do you think there is a way to get rid of no-fault divorce? (20:41) Mike - It seems like women leave marriage at a higher rate than men. What do you think about this? (25:07) Stephen - Would you cover the verse that mentioned you commit adultery if...

Doug shares how marriage can be a vessel for Christ’s redemptive work.     Resources:   How Christ Saves Souls—with Us: The Mystery of Co-Redemption https://stpaulcenter.com/store/how-christ-saves-souls-with-us-the-mystery-of-co-redemption   Catholic Therapists https://catholictherapists.com/   Catholic Psychotherapy https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/

Doug shares marriage lessons we can learn from Jesus’ suffering in Gethsemane. He unpacks martyrdom in marriage, white martyrdom and how God uses our sufferings to redeem souls.   Listener questions and comments: Katherine - My Husband will say sometimes 'I just wish I was dead' and I don’t know how to respond. (20:05)

Courtney Brown joins Doug to discuss talking to young children about human sexuality.   Listener questions and comments: Michelle - My mom always said that when a man and woman love each other, they make love. (20:53) Joyce - Love Ed is what we used at our church and it was very good. (23:49) Patrick - How do you explain when people reduce homosexuality to the Idea of 'they just love each oth...

Dr. Ed Sri and his wife Beth join Doug to discuss their book - The Good, the Messy, and the Beautiful: The Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life.   Listener questions and comments: John - I have a porn addiction that my wife found out about, and it led her to discover inappropriate messages and a past affair. I suffered domestic violence from her this past month, and I'm now in a domestic v...

What should you do when “The Formula” doesn’t work? What should you do when your wife doesn’t do what you ask? Doug goes to the mailbag answering these questions and more.   Listener questions and comments: Mike - What do you think about common law marriage? (16:11) Addison - I am struggling because my husband is stressed at work and our son has special needs. When we...

Sociologist Dr. Brad Wilcox joins Doug to discuss the state of marriage in the U.S.       Resources: Brad Wilcox https://ifstudies.org/about-us/brad-wilcox

Do the problems in your marriage seem insurmountable? Today, Doug continues his discussion on discouragement and despair in marriage.   Listener questions and comments: Alexander - How do I convince my wife to become Catholic? (3:05) Colby - I want to recommend that Alexander looks into the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church. (16:47) David - What do you do if you were raised in an all-male...

Doug takes calls from listeners struggling with discouragement, resentment, and distance in long-term marriages. He offers guidance on staying faithful to your vows and finding hope when relationships feel strained. Plus, the Friday rant!    Listener questions and comments: Jennifer – My marriage is in despair after 31 years, and my husband is distant and sleeping separately. How d...

Is money causing stress in your marriage? Today, Doug is joined by Preston Allex to talk through practical ways to manage family finances. They cover why creating a family budget matters and how to support college-aged kids as they transition into independence. They also share the value of Catholic Legacy: Faithful planning for a peaceful tomorrow.   Listener questions and comments: Tony - My...

Doug examines the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the damage they do to a marriage: criticism, contempt stonewalling and defensiveness.   Listener questions and comments: Ray - Can you give the steps of what to do once you meet a girl? (16:37)

What should you do when your spouse won’t quit drinking? How do you pass on the faith to your children when your spouse is resistant?   Listener questions and comments: Stephanie - My husband wants to stop drinking and my son doesn't believe that he will. I've seen my son cry about this. My son has prayed for his father. What should I do? (9:59) Jane - I have two teenage boys. Their dad...

Nathan Bartel, founder of Cana Feast joins Doug to discuss things men need to know about their wives and the marital embrace.   Listener questions and comments: Mary - What should a wife do if the wife is not wanting or willing to have sex so she is in the other bed room for days and days. (33:47)   Resources: Cana Feast https://canafeast.com/ https://canafeast.com/holydesires

Kathy Burkes and Fr. John McNamara join Doug to discuss Project Rachel and post abortion healing.   Julia - So many people pushed me to get an abortion when I was 22 and I didn’t go through with it. I’m so glad I didn’t. (18:12) Walt - When we separate the word ‘mother’ from the term 'woman who had an abortion' we go nowhere. People who have abortions are still m...